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I don't do new years resolutions, y'all, because - ya know - I don't. It's not exactly due to a lack of will-power, dedication and commitment, but that's probably only because I can't even manage to GET to that point... because (shh...) I typically forget my resolutions within 48 hours of making them. I am the scatterbrained momma who forgets I am wearing my pajamas when I walk out the door; who talks so long while sitting in my car with my headlights on that my car battery dies; who forgets to attend parties and even a wedding once; and - yesterday - I seriously and completely even forgot my PIN number while checking out at the grocery store.

Resolutions? Yeah, right.

(And I still can't remember my PIN number.)

(Although, to be fair, it's because I've been so sick the past two months, I haven't had a chance to use my debit card in two months.)

So... obviously... no to resolutions. I do, however, pick a Biblical verse to strive to live by for the next twelve months. I don't know if I've ever shared that with y'all, but I'm going to this year. It seems appropriate to share because I truly chose this particular verse with our upcoming adoption in mind. It is the first part of Psalm 37:7. "Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act."

Be in the presence of the Lord.

Wait patiently for Him to act.

This means, of course, that I need to actually be in His presence more. Which means I'm gonna strive to read through my entire Bible in 2011. I haven't done this in several years - not since Rosie and my father-in-law - so I think it's time. Past time, probably.

Because I definitely need it.

I need to patiently wait for a referral. I need to patiently wait to travel. And - MOST IMPORTANTLY - I need to be patient with my newest little gal as she copes with all that is hard about adoption. She's not gonna love me right away. She's not even gonna LIKE me right away. And she's definitely not gonna trust me right away. Which means I need to love on her and also "be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act."

All. Year. Long.

Can I get an amen?

And what is YOUR resolution/ goal/ verse for the year?

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comments:

Mia_h_n
said...

First of all, amen!

Secondly, I don't really do resolutions either. I always found it a bit odd that you'd have to wait for a certain day of the year to do or decide something. You should decide to be patient every day, and if your child or lover brought you flowers on other days than Valentine's and Father/Mother's Days it would probably mean more. At least to me.I mean, I know you'd probably have to wait until the designated day to dress up and go trick or treating ;) But you get the idea.

I do get a "new" feeling every new year and for the past decade+ I have said to myself "let's make this year better than last". Not that the past year have necessarily been bad, but the best life I can possibly have is always worth stiving for. And I'm happy to say I've succeeded.

...On second thought, maybe I've just gotten older! I find it becomes easier to relax and prioritize and be happy once you've shed the teenage angst and popularity contest aspect of everything.

I'm lazy and don't want to try to look up this verse or translation, but a similar verse (maybe the same one?) in another translation says "Cease Striving" and wait for God. Wow. cease striving... can you imagine if we did that? If we just truly rested in Him and trusted Him for everything...

I'm with you. I need to do the exact same thing. But I don't think it can be accomplished merely by an act of will or by a resolution - I think we must pray for God to open our eyes to his love for us. As we grow to understand that more deeply and intimately, a deeper, abiding trust will naturally develop. It isn't something we can artificially create. But He can create in us new hearts; hearts of flesh. Hearts that rest in the knowledge that we are loved... just like He has done in the tongginator and will do in your new little one.

I'm going to print that out and tape it up on my mirror. " Psalm 37:7. "Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act."

Because like you, I need to wait patiently!

You, YOU are going to see your new daughters face this year! OMG!! How exciting is that?? As slow as CCAA is, you will see her precious face THIS YEAR! Its time to start getting excited again...you are in labor chick!

AMEN!Thanks for reminding the rest of us. This is something I need to work on. Adoption obviously requires large amounts of patience (as does parenting), and it's so easy to get impatient in the process. To be present in the Lord...much better than any resolutions I've thought about having (I don't do those either).

I had felt the prompting to read the Bible this year, too. (well, I read the Bible every year, but I mean read the ENTIRE Bible this year). So I'm doing that.

I'm taking up homeschooling this semester. I'm a former teacher, but I'm still a little apprehensive. I did it years ago with my older kids, and they turned out okay--even went to college w/ scholarships--so I didn't screw them up.....but it is such a TOTAL commitment. I need to stay in the Word more this year.

I love this verse you shared.

Let's go out for coffee, okay? I don't care if you wear your pajamas. I go out in my slippers all the time.

Great post and sure hoping you are able to lean on God to get you through the next months of waiting. I too am reading the Bible though. It is going great so far! I just found the verse 2 Peter 1:3 and think I will choose it as my verse this year. I am working on memorizing. :) Hope you have a blessed and joyful day!

I'm not even industrious enough to pick a verse....I go for just one word. This year I chose Embrace as we see lots of changes coming -- and not ones that we want to come! LOL! So I walk around muttering "embrace with grace...embrace with grace".

Want a cool idea? There is a bible (not exact translation so no capital) called Word on the Street that makes reading through the bible fun and almost easy. I had a friend read it and rave but I didn't pay too much attention as I love to read my Bible. So the friend sent it to me because it was that good to her. I started it last night and I'm shocked -- its good. You should try to find it. I don't know about you but when I'm stressed (like an adoption wait..) some days its hard to get past a few verses in the Bible as its such heavy reading...so something like this would get you reading without needing much brain power.

Oh, man, I may just have to steal that one! We, as well, are playing the waiting game and before I was an adoptive-mama-to-be I don't think I had ever truly had to WAIT for anything significant in my life. Chalk it up to the myriad of ways God is teaching me through this whole process. Thanks for sharing! That one's going on the bathroom mirror for sure. (FYI, that's where only my favorite verses go. ;))

I'm not sure yet...for the last year or so I've been thinking about "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." I'm not even sure of the reference, but I've tried my darnedest to worry about today ONLY, while I prepare myself for whatever comes. Worrying about tomorrow can't possibly change it.

Nearly 15 years ago I was sitting on the couch watching the Eagles live on PBS with a boyfriend. I kept jumping up to do something else - as is my tendency...Learn to be Still came on and he looked at me and said, "Learn to be Still" I didn't date him long, but that has ALWAYS stuck with me, when I should be enjoying something and I start stressing - I try to keep that in mind. It's certainly not the bible, but music often speaks to me in a similar way;)This year, my goal is to spend more time with my little one...to learn that the world is not going to end if I keep someone waiting for an answer until the next day...that I can go home at a decent time and see my girl and nothing bad is going to happen. I've actually been working on it for a few months, but old habits are hard to break.

We don't do resolutions, but we do give gifts to Jesus every Christmas, which is sort of like a resolution but instead of me trying to fix something, it is me surrendering something to God. I am perpetually distracted and unsettled, so this year, I gave Him a heart purposefully focused on Him.

Another reason to love you! This time last year, I repeated that verse over and over and over to myself. But being the scattered, no-memory person I am, I forgot it. Just yesterday (no lie), I was all-- what was that verse about waiting? Where was that again? And then you pop up with this. How awesome is that! And now I can use it again until my brain blows another fuse. Hoorah! :)

I do have two words that keep coming to mind as I spend more time with the Lord...

INTENTIONAL

DELIBERATE

I really want to be more INTENTIONAL in my prayer life, my teaching, my service, my checkbook--every area of the life He has given me.

And I really want to be DELIBERATE in time spent with hubby, children, family, friends.

There is also a word that He keeps bringing to mind that I want to be on my OUT list (referring to your awesome in/out post that I just loved reading!) That word that I want to be out is....COMPLACENCY.:)

AMEN!!!!!!! I cannot help you on patience cause that is one I struggle with and pray about constantly! It is funny how that one is so hard for me because I see God's miracles all around me, all the time but yet I still have such a hard time trusting in His perfect timing, and it always is perfect! Yep, I don't need hindsight, I just need patience and trust! The trust I got, the patience, well maybe that should ne my New Year's resolution??? I just cannot wait to hear about your wonderful new little blessing!!! See there's that patience thing again!!! LOL!